Module - Radiation Protection

Work-based learning outcomes

  1. Understand the hierarchy of control measures available to ensure safe practice in a diagnostic imaging room and in the safe handling of sealed and unsealed radioactive sources
  2. Calculate estimated absorbed, equivalent and effective doses to patients, and effective doses to staff and members of the public for diagnostic X-ray and radionuclide procedures
  3. Specify the theoretical and practical requirement involved in room design for diagnostic imaging facilities
  4. Compare and contrast the radiation safety requirements for diagnostic X-ray imaging, nuclear medicine imaging and radionuclide therapy
  5. Advise patients, colleagues and other professionals on radiation safety issues
  6. Deal with radiation incidents

Work-based Competencies

Learning outcome Title Knowledge
1 1,4

Undertake risk assessment for a range of radiation facilities and a range of radiation hazards, to include external and internal, low energy and high energy, X-ray, gamma, beta and positron
  • Methods of risk assessment
  • Sources, extent and significance of hazards to:
    • patients and their carers
    • staff
    • public
    • the organisation
2 1,3

Write local rules for a diagnostic imaging area, including contingency planning
  • Application of relevant legislative requirements, eg IRR99 with reference to good practice guides (eg MDGN)
  • Requirements of other legislation, IRMER, MARS, EPR2010, RSA93 (Scotland)
  • Local hospital policies Reporting policy to relevant external agency, eg Environment Agency (EA), Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
3 1,3

Write local rules for nuclear medicine facilities and services, including  contingency planning
  • Application of relevant legislative requirements, eg IRR99 with reference to good practice guides (eg MDGN)
  • Requirements of other legislation, IRMER, MARS, EPR2010, RSA93 (Scotland)
  • Local hospital policies Reporting policy to relevant external agency, eg Environment Agency (EA), Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
4 6

Critically appraise IRMER procedures for a radiation facility
  • Application of relevant legislative requirements, eg IRR99 with reference to good practice guides (eg MDGN)
  • Requirements of other legislation, IRMER, MARS, EPR2010, RSA93 (Scotland)
  • Local hospital policies Reporting policy to relevant external agency, eg Environment Agency (EA), Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
5 3,5

Review the results of whole body and extremity radiation dose monitoring of staff and take remedial action as appropriate
  • Dose limits and appropriate constraints
6 5

Give advice to diagnostic and therapy patients on the precautions that they should follow on their return home, with particular regard to the safety of children, unborn foetuses and breast-fed infants
  • Issues relevant to clearance of tracer, dose limits, Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) notes for guidance on breast-feeding
  • Professional bodies
7 5

Give radiation safety advice to a range of healthcare staff in connection with nuclear medicine patients
  • Basic knowledge of dose rates from nuclear medicine patients and how they vary with time for a range of radionuclides
8 6

Deal with a spillage of liquid radioactive material and perform subsequent decontamination measures
  • Local rules and other sources of information, eg MDGN Also IRRand EPR
9 1

Calibrate contamination monitors for measuring the surface activity of a range of radionuclides, including technetium-99m, iodine-131 and a pure beta emitter
  • Function and operation of contamination monitors and their suitability for detecting different types of radiation, eg beta and gamma
10 1

Manage a quality assurance programme for radiation monitors
  • National guidance and legislation
11 1,3

Participate in the management of the storage, disposal and record keeping of radioactive waste
  • Management requirements of an EPR permit
  • Role of the radioactive waste manager
12 1

Perform radiation protection audits for nuclear medicine
  • Requirements of EPR, IRR99 and other legislation as set out in MGDN
13 1

Critically review policies and procedures for regulatory compliance
  • Relevant legislation
  • Role of duty holders, eg Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS), Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA), Medical Physics Expert (MPE)
14 2

Collect data for the calculation of estimated absorbed, equivalent and effective doses to patients, and effective doses to staff and the public
  • Method of calculation (MIRD)
15 2

Calculate estimated radiation dose and radiation risk where relevant in relation to a particular incident
  • Theoretical knowledge of dosimetry

Work-based assessment

Complete 2 Case-Based Discussion(s)
Complete 1 of the following DOPS and/or OCEs
Type Title
DOPS Monitor a room for contamination
DOPS Perform a risk assessment of a new procedure
DOPS Decontaminate a room
DOPS Monitor radioactive waste and dispose where appropriate. Keep records of storage and disposal.
DOPS Calculate the absorbed dose to a patient undertaking a SPECT/CT scan.
OCE Explain the radiation risks to a patient who is having an imaging test.
OCE Give advice to a diagnostic patients on the precautions that they should follow on their return home with particular regard to the safety of children, unborn foetuses and breast-fed infants.
OCE Give radiation safety advice to a member of healthcare staff in connection with a nuclear medicine patient.
OCE Give advice to a pregnant member of healthcare staff in connection with Nuclear Medicine patients